Official MLBlog of the Kansas City Royals front office.

Late on Thursday evening, the Royals announced that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations. Paulino, who will wear #59, is expected the join the Royals bullpen tonight as they open a three-game series in Texas against the Rangers. In a corresponding move, the club designated right-handed pitcher Robinson Tejeda for assignment.

Paulino, 27, was 0-4 in 18 relief appearances for Colorado this season with a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 innings before being designated for assignment on May 22. In parts of a four-year Major League career with the Houston Astros (2007, 2009-10) and Rockies (2011), the 6-foot-2, 270-pounder is 6-25 with a 5.93 ERA in 65 games, including 34 starts. In 223.0 innings, he has struck out 201 and walked 97. Paulino was the Astros number two prospect prior to 2008 but missed that entire season with a pinched nerve in his right arm. He bounced back in 2009 to record 93 strikeouts in 91.2 innings, the most by a Houston rookie since 2003.

Paulino was acquired by the Rockies in exchange for infielder Clint Barmes on November 18, 2010. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was originally signed by Houston as an undrafted free agent shortstop on July 2, 2001. He currently resides in Pearland, Texas, with his wife, Paola, and daughter, Victoria.

The 29-year-old Tejeda was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in nine relief appearances for Kansas City in 2011.

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